Ozonizer



Nov. 4 1924.

OZONIZER Original Filed Dec. 15. 1919 TTO/EZNEM Patented Nov. 4, 1924.

UlTED STATES FRED G. NIECE, F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

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Application filed December 15, 1919, Serial No. 344,798. Renewed April 1, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED G. Nrnon, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ozonizers, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present improvements relate to that type of ozonizing apparatus wherein an electrical discharge through air or oxy en is utilized to produce the desired ozone. ne object of the invention is the production of uniformly ozonized air, in contradistinction to a mixture of varying concentration. further object is to render it possible to obtain and maintain a higher concentration than is possible with current commercial apparatus.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a central axial section of my imroved apparatus; Fig. 2 is an elevational view of one of the stationary electrodes forming a featureof such apparatus; Fig. 3 is a similar view of one of the dielectric plates; and Fig. 4 is a similar view of a rotary electrode.

In the preferred form illustrated, the apparatus is shown as contained within a cylindrical chamber 1, which may be either horizontally disposed as illustrated, or vertically ifdesired. The air or oxygen to be treated is admitted to chamber 1 through a duct 2 adjacent one end, and the treated gas passes out through another duct 3 adjacent the other end. A cooling jacket 4 preferably surrounds chamber 1 having an inlet duct 5 and an outlet duct 6, whereby a cooling fluid such as water may be circulated in contact with the cylindrical wall of the chamber.

Extending axially of the chamber is a rotatable shaft 7 which may be driven in any sultable way, but is preferably directly connected at one end with an electric motor 8, as shown in Fig. 1-. The end in question is preferably the intake end of the chamber, and the space occupied by the motor is separated from the remainder of the chamber by a partition 9 having a central opening that may be increased or decreased in size as desired, by means of a diaphragm shutter 10 or equivalent device. The air passing into the chamber from duct 2 accordingly passes over the motor in order to reach this opening in partition 9, and thereby assists in keeping said motor cool.

Mounted upon, but insulated from, shaft 7 is a series of electrodes 12 spaced length- A wise of said shaft and alternating with a corresponding series of stationarily mounted electrodes 13. The latter have central openings 1 1 so as not to contact with the shaft, and are peripherally insulated as shown. Interposed in turn between each adjacent pair of electrodes 12 and 13 is a dielectric plate 15, so that in the complete assemblage of parts, an electrode 12, rotatable with shaft 7, will be seen to lie between each pair of dielectric plates 15. The latter are provided with central openings 16 similar to the openings 14 in stationary electrodes 13, but preferably of smaller diameter.

The current is. supplied by means-0f suitable leads 18 and 19 to the shaft 7 and the stationary electrodes 13, shaft 7 being connected by means of suitable insulated connections 20 with the respective rotating electrodes 12.

Having thus described the construction of my apparatus, the mode of operation of the same may be readily explained. The one set of electrodes, as already noted, is rotatable with shaft 7, by means of motor 8 connected with said shaft. The electric discharge accordingly passes through successive electric plates from a stationary to a revolving electrode, or vice versa. The current of air passing through the chamber 1 is simultaneously drawn across the faces of the dielectric plates, first radially inwardly and then radially outwardly, due to the arrangement of openings in said plates and the interposed stationary electrodes.

As a result, in the first place due to the revolving of the electrodes, any inequalities in the thickness of the dielectric plates or the spaping of the electrodes is balanced up, thus :liminating variations in current density per init of discharge surface. -At the same time he air currents produced, as just stated, and iy the revolving electrodes themselves, cause thorough and even mixture of the air conained Within the chamber, so that the ozoniation is uniform throughout. The air eurents in question produce a further advanageous result, in that the tendency of the iielectric plates to heat up and rupture is ainimized, the heat evolved being radiated hrough the chamber and and absorbed by he cooling medium i cket For low oncentrations t jaci maybe simply airooled, water being en f. ed only for high oncentrations of ozone.

By means of my improved apparatus I vercome the main diiliculty heretofore enountered in obtaining and maintaining a elatively high concentration of ozone, for xample five grams per cubic meter. The hief difficulty heretofore encountered has een the heating of the apparatus not only ausing frequent rupture of the dialectrics, ut, even worse, causing the ozone to break own immediately into oxygen again. Acordingly, the only satisfactory method eretofore of obtaining ozone of high conentration has been to ozone the air to a ioderate concentration, then passing the esulting product through a chilling chamer, thereupon subjecting the same to a. econd treatment, and so on until the deired concentration obtained. This obiously makes a high cost of production, 'hereas by my apparatus the. successive :ages of ozonization are accomplished in no operation, and directly from the origial air or oxygen introduced into the. aparatus.

The cooling of the air in the chamber has re desirable effect of causing most of the ioisture therein to condense and precipitate, is outlet 1 serving to withdraw the water i condensation. The air is thus rendered a nearly dry as possible.

Other modes of applying the principle of y invention may be employed instead of ie one explained, change being made as igards the mechanism herein disclosed, iovided the means stated by any of the illowing claims or the equivalent of such ated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and stinctly claim as my invention 2- 1. In an ozonizing apparatus, the comnation of a closed chamber having supply [(1 discharge d icts. whereby the air or :ygen being treated may be passed thererough; a series of alternately spaced electric plates and discharge electrodes ounted in said chamber so as to be rotatle relatively to each other. each of said ates and every alternate electrode being [it-rally apertured to cause the air or oxygen treated to flow over each side of said plates and suitable electrical connections to said electrodes.

2. In an ozonizing apparatus, the combination of a closed chamber having supply and discharge ducts, whereby the air or oxygen being treated may be passed therethrough; a cooling jacket surrounding said chamber; a series of alternately spaced dielectric plates and discharge electrodes 7 mounted in said chamber, alternate electrodes mounted so as to be rotatable reiatively to said plates; and suit-abie electrical connections to said eiectrodes.

3. In an ozonizing apparatus, the combination of a closed chamber having supply and discharge ducts, whereby the air or oxygen being treated may be passed therethrough; a partition having an opening of adjustable size at the air inlet end of said chamber; a cooling jacket surrounding said chamber; a series of alternately spaced dielectric plates and discharge electrodes mounted in said chamber, alternate electrodes mounted so as to be rotatable relatively to said plates; and suitable electrical connections to' said electrodes.

4. In an ozonizing apparatus, the combination of a closed chamber having supply and discharge ducts, whereby the air or oxygen being treated may be passed therethrough; a series of spaced dielectric plates stationarily mounted in said chamber; a series of electrodes interposed between said plates, alternate electrodes being stationary and the others rotatable relatively to said plates; and suitable electrical connections to said electrodes.

5. In an ozonizing apparatus, the combination of a closed, approximately cylin- 05 drical chamber having supply and discharge ducts adjacent its respective ends, whereby the air or oxygen being treated may be passed through said chamber; a rotatable shaft axially mounted in said chamber; a 11 motor at the supply end of the latter connected to rotate said shaft; a partition separating said motor from the remainder of said chamber, said partition having a central opening of adjustable size; a series of dielectric plates and discharge electrodes mounted in said chamber symmetrically about said shaft, certain of said series being carried by said shaft so as to rotate relatively to the others; and suitable eleotrical connections to said electrodes.

6. In an ozonizing apparatus, the combination of a closed, approximately cylindrical chamber having supply and discharge ducts adjacent its respective ends, whereby the air or oxygen being treated may be passed through said chamber; a rotatable shaft axially mounted in said chamber; a motor at the supply end of the latter connected to rotate said shaft; a partition separating said motor from the remainder of said chamber, said partition having a central opening of adjustable size; a series of dielectric plates stationarily mounted in said chamber symmetrically about said shaft; a series of electrodes interposed between said plates, alternate electrodes being stationary and the others being carried by said shaft so as to rotate therewith; and suitable electrical connections to said electrodes.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of spaced dielectric plates; a series of spaced electrode plates adapted to be connected to one terminal of an electrical source; a series of spaced electrode plates adapted to be connected to the other terminal of the electrical source; some of said plates being rotatable in relation to the remaining plates; all of said plates being in substantially parallel rela tion, and each dielectric plate being arranged between and spaced from one of the first mentioned series of electrodes, and one of the second series of electrodes.

Signed by me, this 13th day of December,

FIRED G. NIE'CE. 

